Roto Riteup: June 13, 2013
Sadly for all of you, the Roto Riteup is all mine until Sunday.
On today’s agenda:
1. Jaff Dacker gets the call
2. Marco Scutaro screwed up his finger
3. Suspensions to be handed down today
4. Fun with arbitrary endpoints
Jaff Dacker gets the call
Jaff “don’t call me Jeff” Dacker has been called up to the big leagues by the Padres, where the former top prospect will be asked to fill in for Cameron Maybin. Dacker crushed the ball in the very-low minors after being drafted, but he’s had a huge problem posting suitable batting averages since the end of 2009. Dacker may not hit for average, but he packs a large punch in a small frame (5-10), and the 23-year-old has no qualms about taking walks. Maybin is expected to miss a couple months time after tearing a knee ligament, and while Dacker is being recalled, odds are guys like Alexi Amarista and Chris Denorfia will receive a bulk of Maybin’s now vacant playing time.
Marco Scutaro screwed up his finger
Scutaro injured his finger so badly that he is not able to straighten it out, but no matter, the Giants are keeping him on the active roster. Scutaro is hoping to play in a few days if the pain subsides, but this author is betting on the scrappy second baseman taking a trip to the DL. Scutaro has been fantastic this year, hitting .332 with a league average walk rate. Scutaro’s skillset revolves around making contact, and while that would not be hampered by a screwy digit, making contact with any sort of authority feels like it would be quite difficult.
Suspensions to be handed down today
The MLB has yet to issue any suspensions following Tuesday’s brawl between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers, but the league has said it will announce everything today. Best guess is that Ian Kennedy and Juan Uribe both miss a few games, though there’s probably not a fantasy owner in the world truly upset by it.
Fun with arbitrary endpoints
• Mark Buehrle, last 6 starts: 39 IP, 26 K, 12 BB, 1 HR, 3.00 ERA
• Lorenzo Cain, last 23 G: .228/.287/.342, 1 HR, 2 SB, .279 BABIP
• Wade Davis, last 4 starts: 23 IP, 25 K, 6 BB, 3 HR, 4.30 ERA
• Victor Martinez, last 28 games: .275/.304/.422, 4 HR, .264 BABIP
• Martin Prado, last 40 games: .270/.315/.342, .301 BABIP
Zach is the creator and co-author of RotoGraphs' Roto Riteup series, and RotoGraphs' second-longest tenured writer. You can follow him on twitter.
Don’t you mean Jaff “don’t call me jeff” Decker “don’t call me dacker”?
Thoughts on Alcedis Escobar. I dont want to panic, but he has been a letdown this season for me and has been struggling pretty badly for over a month now. I know SS is a pretty dead area this season in terms of depth, but Simmons, Drew, Aviles and Yunel Escobar are all floating on my waiver wire and while not giving me great production would give me more than I am getting now. Stick it out with Alcides or bail?
Any thoughts on Jon Lester? He has been awful the last month or so and considering he is looking similar to the starter from last year is he still worth holding onto in leagues with lots of pitching depth?
I’d hold Escobar right now. His LD% is 20, GB% less than 50 (48.2), his contact% is the same, his swingingStrike% is low (7.4), and his strikeout is the lowest it’s ever been (10.5). He still has the 10 steals and will problem net 25 or more by the end of the season.
The problem with Alcides is that his value is very dependent upon the team he plays for, and where he bats in the lineup. He most bats second or last, but when (if) the Royals offense heats up in the second he will more likely bat 2nd. It’s a tough call really, but the others on the waiver wire might not really be any better options in a month or two.
If you make the choice to drop Alcides, it’d go with Simmons. He’s on an Atlanta team that will score a lot of runs, which means his RBI’s will be more than Alcides. You will lose about 15 steals however.
As for Lester, he can go through spells of ineffectiveness, but the last start was 7 walks. His line drive percentage is about 20, which is well above the 2009 – 2011 Lester average of 17%. Lester’s strikeout rate is also the same as last year as well, so you have good reason to worry.
But you should wait, because Lester is still good enough to give you value in the second half of the season. He’s still striking out more than 7 per 9 innings and his xFIP is 4. Unless the guy on the waiver wire is someone with a sub 3.5 era and 8 kip potential, I’d wait until the end of June before dropping Lester.
Yep, Jeff Decker….
Whoops, I stand corrected, Jaff Decker….
Deep 10 team league standard 5X5. Not been a good year so far im in 7th, bad in saves/steals but potential to move up quickly. I just picked up Homer Baily who somehow hit the waiver wire, have a SP to deal. I have a hard time evaluating what is fair for closers…opinions on Verlander for Krimbel and Jim Henderson (potential trading partner has literally 5 closers)?
I would not trade Verlander for any 2 closers unless maybe it’s Chapman and Kimbrel. Also Henderson is not 100% getting the job back. Bailey for Greg Holland or Perkins or someone on that level seems like your best move
What was fun about those arbitrary endpoints? Nothing about those players or those stats really jumped out at me.